Image display apparatus, image display apparatus controlling method, and non-transitory recording medium

ABSTRACT

An image display apparatus includes a sensor, circuitry, and a display. The sensor measures a writing pressure of a user in response to handwriting input performed on an input device by the user. The circuitry determines a width of a line based on the measured writing pressure of the user. The display displays the line with the determined width as a trajectory of the handwriting input performed on the input device by the user. The circuitry sets a correction value for the width of the line at each of a plurality of predetermined positions of the trajectory of the handwriting input by the user in response to input from the user, and corrects the width of the line based on the set correction value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35U.S.C. §119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-132735 filed onJul. 4, 2016, in the Japan Patent Office, the entire disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus, an imagedisplay apparatus controlling method, and a non-transitory recordingmedium.

Description of the Related Art

At meetings in companies, educational institutions, and administrativeagencies, for example, an image display apparatus such as an electronicinformation board has been used which allows a user to write a characteror draw a figure, for example, on a background image displayed on adisplay of the image display apparatus. Such an image display apparatusincludes an electronic pen equipped with a pressure sensor to change theline width of the trajectory of a stroke displayed on the display inaccordance with the writing, pressure applied by the user (i.e., awriter or a drawer) e.g., to increase the line width in accordance withthe increase in the writing pressure.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of this invention, there is provided an improved imagedisplay apparatus that includes, fir example, a sensor, circuitry, and adisplay. The sensor measures a writing pressure of a user in response tohandwriting input performed on an input device by the user. Thecircuitry determines a width of a line based on the measured writingpressure of the user. The display displays the line with the determinedwidth as a trajectory of the handwriting input performed on the inputdevice by the user. The circuitry sets a correction value for the widthcat the line at each of a plurality of predetermined positions of thetrajectory of the handwriting input by the user in response to inputfrom the user, and corrects the width of the line based on the setcorrection value.

In one embodiment of this invention, there is provided an improved imagedisplay apparatus controlling method that includes, for example,measuring a writing pressure of a user in response to handwriting inputperformed by the user, acquiring a width of a line set by the user,calculating a writing pressure correction value for the user based on adifference between the acquired width of the line and a width of theline based on the measured writing pressure, acquiring a minimum valueand a maximum value of the width of the line input by the user, andstoring the calculated writing pressure correction value for the userand the minimum value and the maximum value of the width of the line forthe user.

In one embodiment of this invention, there is provided a non-transitoryrecording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute theabove-described image display apparatus controlling method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendantadvantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understoodfrom the following detailed description with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the general arrangementof an electronic information board according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection between theelectronic information board according to the embodiment and peripheralequipment, for example;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of wireless communicationbetween the electronic information board and an electronic pen accordingto the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconfiguration of the electronic information board according to theembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of thefunctional configuration of the electronic information board accordingto the embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of a setting screenfor first calibration according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed duringthe execution of the first calibration according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a table illustrating an example of line widths for differentwriting pressures set in the electronic information board according tothe embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a table illustrating an example of writing pressure correctionvalues for different users according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen forsecond calibration according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a table illustrating an example of minimum and maximum linewidth values for different users according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of aline width calibration process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of afirst calibration process according to the embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of asecond calibration process according to the embodiment.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of thepresent invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scopethereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn toscale unless explicitly noted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentinvention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise.

In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specificterminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosureof this specification is not intended to be limited to the specificterminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specificelement includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function,operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail.

An electronic information board 10 is an image display apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronicinformation board 10 sets (i.e., calibrates) a writing pressurecorrection value and minimum and maximum line width values for each userto display the line intended by the user when the user performshandwriting input on the electronic information board 10.

A general arrangement of the electronic information board 10 accordingto the present embodiment will first be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the general arrangementof the electronic information board 10 according to the presentembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electronic information hoard10 according to the present embodiment includes a display 20 including adisplay screen 22 and a touch panel 24, a stand 40 that holds thedisplay 20, and an equipment storage unit 50 that stores peripheralequipment.

The display 20 includes a flat panel, such as a liquid crystal panel ora plasma panel. The display screen 22, which displays an image, and thetouch panel 24 are formed on a front surface of a housing of the display20.

The touch panel 24 is an input device integrally formed on the displayscreen 22 to detect position coordinates of a contact point of anelectronic pen 100 contacting the touch panel 24, to thereby receive thehandwriting input performed by the user. In the display 20, the displayscreen 22 performs a display function, and the touch panel 24 performsan input function.

Specifically, the touch panel 24 detects the position coordinates of thecontact point of the electronic pen 100 brought into contact with thetouch panel 24 by the user, to thereby acquire a trajectory drawn on thetouch panel 24 by the user with the electronic pen 100. The touch panel24 of the electronic information board 10 according to the presentembodiment may employ an optical system, an electrostatic capacitancesystem, or an electromagnetic induction system, for example. The touchpanel 24 is an example of an input device according to the presentembodiment.

The display screen 22 displays an image acquired from a personalcomputer (PC) or a character or a figure, for example, written or drawnon the touch panel 24 by the user. Specifically, if the user draws atrajectory on the touch panel 24 while keeping the electronic pen 100 incontact with the touch panel 24, the display screen 22 displays a lineat a place indicated by the position coordinates detected by the touchpanel 24 as the trajectory of the handwriting input performed by theuser. The display screen 22 is an example of a display according to thepresent embodiment.

The electronic pen 100 is an example of a stylus pen used by the user tooperate the touch panel 24. The electronic pen 100 may be any stylus penallowing the touch panel 24 to detect the position coordinates of thecontact point. For example, if the much panel 24 employs an opticalsystem, a light-emitting pen that emits light to allow the touch panel24 to detect the position coordinates of the contact point is adopted asthe electronic pen 100. Further, the electronic pen 100 may beconfigured to be compatible with the electrostatic capacitance system orthe electromagnetic induction system, for example, in accordance withthe type of the touch panel 24. The electronic pen 100 is equipped witha pressure sensor 101 illustrated in FIG. 3, which measures the writingpressure of the user.

The connection between the electronic information board 10 and theperipheral equipment, for example, will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the connection betweenthe electronic information board 10 according to the present embodimentand the peripheral equipment, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 2, theelectronic information board 10 according to the present embodiment isconnectable to a PC 90 arid a network 204 such as the Internet or alocal area network (LAN).

The electronic information board 10 according to the present embodimentfurther includes a controller 60, a universal serial bus (USB) socket72, and a video graphics array (VGA) input socket 82. The controller 50controls the entire electronic information board 10. The USB socket 72and the VGA input socket 82 interface with an external device.

The electronic information board 10 and the PC 90 are connected to eachother via a USB cable 70 connected to the USB socket 72 and, a VGA cable80 connected to the VGA input socket 82. Alternatively, the electronicinformation board 10 and the PC 90 may be connected to each other withcables and connectors based on another communication standard or bywireless communication.

Further, the electronic information board 10 may be connected to thenetwork 204 by wired or wireless communication via a communication line200, such as an optical fiber, and a network socket 202.

The PC 90 hails a hardware configuration of a normal computer, whichincludes a control device such as a central processing unit (CPU),storage devices such as a read-only memory (ROM) and a random accessmemory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), an external storage device suchas a compact disc (CD) drive device, a display device, and input devicessuch as a keyboard and a mouse. The PC 90 is an example of an externalcomputer, and may be replaced by a tablet terminal, for example.

The controller 60 of the electronic information board 10 controls theentire electronic information board 10, and controls transmission andreception of data to and from the PC 90 and the network 204 connected tothe electronic information board 10. For example, if the image data ofthe image displayed on a monitor 92 of the PC 90 is transferred to theelectronic information board 10 via the USB cable 70 or the VGA cable80, the controller 60 causes the display screen 22 of the display 20 todisplay the image, displayed on the monitor 92. Further, if connected toa computer at a remote site via the network 204, for example, thecontroller 60 allows the electronic information board 10 to be used in ameeting between remote sites.

The controller 60 further controls the display screen 22 and the touchpanel 24 of the display 20. Specifically, the controller 60 acquires theposition coordinates of the contact point of the electronic pen 100detected by the touch panel 24, and displays a line on the displayscreen 22 as a trajectory drawn by the user. Further, if the userperforms a screen operation, such as pressing one of various screenoperation units 26 on the display screen 22 with the electronic pen 100,the controller 60 changes the image displayed on the display screen 22based on the screen operation performed on the touch panel 24 by theuser.

The screen operation units 26 are operation buttons displayed on thedisplay screen 22 of the display 20. The screen operation units 26display processes available to the user. The user presses one of thescreen operation units 26 with the electronic pen 100 to operate theelectronic information board 10.

The relationship between the electronic information board 10 and theelectronic pen 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of wireless communicationbetween the electronic information board 10 and the electronic pen 100according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, theelectronic information board 10 includes a communication unit 210 totransmit and receive signals to and from the electronic pen 100, and theelectronic per 100 includes a communication unit 102 to transmit andreceive signals to and from the electronic information board 10.

In the present embodiment, the electronic pen 100 includes the pressuresensor 101 in a tip portion thereof. The pressure sensor 101 measuresthe writing pressure of the user when the user performs handwritinginput on the touch panel 24. The electronic pen 100 transmits themeasured writing pressure to the communication unit 210 of theelectronic information board 10 from the communication unit 101 Thepressure sensor 101 is an example of a sensor according to the presentembodiment.

The communication unit 210 transmits the writing pressure acquired fromthe electronic pen 100 to the controller 60. The controller 60 acquiresfrom the touch panel 24 the position coordinates of the contact point ofthe electronic pen 100 contacting the touch panel 24.

Based on the writing pressure acquired from the electronic pen 100 andthe position coordinates of the contact point of the electronic pen 100acquired from the touch panel 24, the controller 60 detects the writingpressure and the position coordinates of the line drawn on the touchpanel 24 by the user. The controller 60 displays a line on the displayscreen 22 at the position coordinates at which the contact of theelectronic pen 100 has been detected. In accordance with an increase inthe writing pressure at the position coordinates of the contact point,the controller 60 increases the line width of the line to be displayed.

A hardware configuration of the electronic information hoard 10according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardwareconfiguration of the electronic information board 10 according to thepresent embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the controller 60 of theelectronic information board 10 includes a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63,and an HDD 64. In the electronic information hoard 10, the CPU 61, theROM 62, the RAM 63, the HDD 64, the display screen 22, the USB socket72, the VGA input socket 82, the communication unit 210, the touch panel24, an integrated circuit (IC) card reading device 25 are connected to abus 111.

In the controller 60, the ROM 62 stores a control program. The CPU 61controls the processing of the electronic information board 10 inaccordance with the control program stored in the ROM 62. The RAM 63 isused as a working memory during the processing of the CPU 61. The HDD 64stores values of standard settings of the line width set in theelectronic information board 10 and values set in calibration of theline width performed by the user.

In the electronic information board 10, the IC card reading device 25acquires identification information of the user. The user of theelectronic information board 10 has an IC card 400 illustrated in FIG.5, on which the identification information of the user such as useridentification (ID) is recorded. The user holds the IC card 400 abovethe IC card reading device 25 to log in the electronic information board10. The IC card 400 may be replaced by a user ID input button or aconfiguration that, uniquely identifies the user by biometrics, forexample. With the acquired identification information of the user, theelectronic information board 10 applies different display settings todifferent users.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of thefunctional configuration of the electronic information board 10according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, thecontroller 60 of the electronic information board 10 includes a maincontrol unit 220, an application unit 230, the HDD 64, a touch paneldriver 260, and an IC card interface (I/F) 250. The controller 60transmits and receives signals to and from the display screen 22 and thetouch panel 24 of the display 20, and acquires signals from thecommunication unit 210 and the IC card reading device 25.

The illustration of the ROM 62, the RAM 63, the USB socket 72, and theVGA input socket 82 of the electronic information board 10 illustratedin FIG. 4 is omitted in FIG. 5. As well as the functional unitsillustrated in FIG. 5, a functional unit that controls the display ofthe image acquired from the PC 90, for example, is also included in theelectronic information board 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the HDD 64 stores line widths 300 forrespective writing pressures, writing pressure correction values 310 forrespective users, and minimum and maximum line width values 320 forrespective users (hereinafter simply referred to as the line widths 300,the writing pressure correction values 310, and the minimum and maximumline width values 320). The line widths 300 are information of linewidths associated with writing pressures and previously registered inthe electronic information board 10 as the standard settings. Thewriting pressure correction values 310 and the minimum and maximum linewidth values 320 are registered information of settings individually setfor each of the users. The settings of the writing pressure correctionvalues 310 and the minimum and maximum line width values 320 areregistered through the calibration of the line width executed by theuser.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the main control unit 220 controls the entireprocessing of the controller 60. The main control unit 220 acquires asignal received from an external device by the touch panel driver 260 orthe IC card I/F 250, and transmits an event signal to the applicationunit 230 to control the processing of the controller 60.

The touch panel driver 260 is a device driver that controls the touchpanel 24 and the electronic pen 100. The touch panel driver 260 acquiresthe position coordinates of the contact point of the electronic pen 100from the touch panel 24.

The pressure sensor 101 of the electronic pen 100 measures the value ofthe writing pressure applied during the handwriting input performed onthe touch panel 24 by the user. The measured writing pressure istransmitted from the communication unit 102 of the electronic pen 100 tothe communication unit 210 of the electronic information board 10.

The communication unit 210 of the electronic information board 10transmits the writing pressure of the user acquired from thecommunication unit 102 of the electronic pen 100 to the touch paneldriver 260.

The touch panel driver 260 acquires, via the communication unit 210, thewriting pressure of the user measured by the pressure sensor 101 of theelectronic pen 100. The touch panel driver 260 converts the writingpressure and the position coordinates of the contact point of theelectronic pen 100 into a predetermined event signal, and transmits theevent signal to the main control unit 220.

If the user presses one of the screen operation units 26 on the touchpanel 24 with the electronic pen 100, the touch panel driver 260transmits an event signal according to the pressed screen operation unit26 (i.e., an operation button) to the main control unit 220.

The IC card I/F 250 acquires from the IC card reading device 25 theidentification information of the user recorded on the IC card 400. TheIC card 250 transmits the acquired identification information of theuser to the main control unit 220.

The application unit 230 is implemented by, for example, software thatperforms a variety of processes for realizing the functions of theelectronic information board 10. The application unit 230 includes anevent signal determining unit 231, a user recognizing unit 232, a linewidth determining unit 233, a screen rendering unit 234, a screendisplay control unit 235, and a setting unit 240.

The event signal determining unit 231 monitors the event signal inputfrom the main control unit 220 to perform a control process inaccordance with the input event signal.

The user recognizing unit 232 acquires the identification information ofthe user, which is acquired by the IC card I/F 250, from the maincontrol unit 220 via the event signal determining unit 231. If the usercalibrates the line width, the user recognizing unit 232 transmits theacquired identification information of the user to the setting unit 240.If the user performs the operation of writing a character or drawing afigure, for example, on the touch panel 24 of the electronic informationboard 10, the user recognizing unit 232 transmits the acquiredidentification information of the user to the line width determiningunit 233. In the present embodiment, the identification information ofthe user is the user ID.

The setting unit 240 individually sets, for each of the users, thedisplay setting of the width of the line to be displayed on the displayscreen 22. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the setting unit 240 includes afirst calibration executing unit 241 and a second calibration executingunit 242.

The process of first calibration executed by the first calibrationexecuting unit 241 will be specifically described with reference toFIGS. 6A and 6B.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of a setting screenfor the first calibration according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of an initial screen displayed on thedisplay screen 22 after the start-up, of the electronic informationboard 10. A calibration button 26 a illustrated in FIG. 6A is one of thescreen operation units 26. If the user presses the calibration button 26a with the electronic pen 100, the first calibration executing unit 241of the setting unit 240 starts the first calibration in response to theevent signal received from the event signal determining unit 231.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of the setting screen for the firstcalibration. The setting screen for the first calibration displays aline width display field 501 and a line width adjustment field 502.

The line width display field 501 is an input area in which a user 1inputs a trajectory by handwriting with the electronic pen 100. Thetrajectory drawn by the user 1 is displayed as a line in the line widthdisplay field 501 at the position coordinates at which the user 1 hasdrawn the trajectory.

The line width adjustment field 502 is an area in which the user 1inputs a desired line width to set the correction value for the linewidth.

Specifically, the user 1 inputs a trajectory by handwriting in apredetermined area of the line width display field 501 with theelectronic pen 100. The touch panel 24 detects the position coordinatesof the trajectory drawn by the user 1, and the pressure sensor 101 ofthe electronic pen 100 measures the writing pressure of the user 1. Thefirst calibration executing unit 241 acquires from the event signaldetermining unit 231 the event signal representing the writing pressureand the position coordinates of the trajectory drawn by the user 1.

The first calibration executing unit 241 controls the screen renderingunit 234 to display a line in the line width display field 501 as thetrajectory drawn by the user 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed duringthe execution of the first calibration according to the presentembodiment. The line representing the trajectory drawn on the touchpanel 24 by the user 1 in FIG. 6B is displayed in the line width displayfield 301 FIG. 7.

In this case, the first calibration executing unit 241 changes the widthof the line to be displayed in accordance with the writing pressure ofthe user 1 based on the standard settings of the electronic informationboard 10. Specifically, the first calibration executing unit 241acquires the line width corresponding to the writing pressure of theuser 1 with reference to the line widths 300 stored in the HDD 64.

FIG. 8 is a table illustrating an example of the line widths 300 set inthe electronic information board 10 according to the present embodiment.As illustrated in FIG. 8, the line widths 300 are a table of line widthsassociated with writing pressures. The line widths 300 are preset in theelectronic information board 10. The values set in the line widths 300in FIG. 8 are illustrative, and the values of the writing pressure andthe line width are not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the line widths 300 are defined to increasethe width of the fine to be displayed in accordance with the increase inthe writing pressure. For example, if the user 1 draws a line with awriting pressure of 50 grams-force (gf), a line with a width of 0.5 cmis displayed. Further, if the user 1 draws a line with a writingpressure of 100 gf, a line with a width of 1 cm is displayed.

According to the standard settings of the electronic information board10 of the present embodiment, if the writing pressure of the user 1 islower than a predetermined threshold, the line drawn by the user 1 isnot displayed on, the display screen 22 in consideration of for example,the possibility of unintentional contact on the touch panel 24 by theuser 1. For example, in the present embodiment, if the writing pressureof the user 1 is 10 gf or less, the line width corresponding to thiswriting pressure is 0 cm, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In this case, theline drawn by the user 1 is not displayed on the display screen 22.

In FIG. 7, the line displayed in the line width display field 501 isthick in a beginning portion and an end portion of the line and thin in,an intermediate portion of the line. This is because the user 1 hasdrawn the line by increasing the writing pressure in the beginningportion and the end portion and reducing the writing pressure in theintermediate portion.

The user 1 is allowed to adjust the thus-determined line width byoperating the line width adjustment field 502 in the setting screen forthe first calibration.

The adjustment of the line width performed by the user 1 will bespecifically described.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the line width display field 501 displaysscale marks at four points a, b, c, and d. The point a represents theposition of a beginning portion of the trajectory drawn by the user 1,and the point b represents the position corresponding to one third ofthe trajectory drawn by the user 1 from the beginning portion of thetrajectory. Further, the point c represents the position correspondingto two-thirds of the trajectory drawn by the user 1 from the beginningportion of the trajectory, and the point d represents the position of anend portion of the trajectory drawn by the user 1. The points a to d arean example of predetermined positions of the present embodiment. Thepredetermined positions include the respective positions of at least abeginning portion, an intermediate portion, and an end portion of theline of the trajectory drawn by the user 1, and are not limited to thepositions of the above-described four points a, b, c, and d.

The line width adjustment field 502 in FIG. 7 displays scale marks 502a, 502 b, 502 c, and 502 d for adjusting the line width at each of thepositions of the points a, b, c, and d. Each of the displayed scalemarks 502 a, 502 b, 502 c, and 502 d indicates the line width at theposition of the corresponding one of the points a, b, c, and d. The user1 operates the scale marks 502 a, 502 b, 502 c, and 502 d in the linewidth adjustment field 502 to adjust the line width at each of thepositions of the points a, h, c, and d in the line width display field501 to set the desired line width.

Specifically, the user 1 operates the scale mark 502 a with theelectronic pen 100 to change the line width at the position of the pointa to the desired line width. The line width set with the scale mark 502a by the user 1 is reflected in the line width at the point a in theline width display field 501. The user 1 is allowed to operate the scalemarks 502 a to 502 d in the line width adjustment field 502 whilechecking the change in the width of the line displayed in the line widthdisplay field 501.

At each of the positions of the points a to d, the difference betweenthe line width determined based on the standard settings and displayedin the line width display field 501 before the change in line width madeby the user land the desired line width set by the user 1 corresponds tothe value by which the line width is to be corrected at the position.The first calibration executing unit 241 acquires the desired line widthset by the user 1, and calculates the value by which the line width isto be corrected at each of the positions of the points a to d. The firstcalibration executing unit 241 then calculates a writing pressurecorrection value for correcting the writing pressure of the user 1 todisplay the line width expected by the user 1 at each of the positionsof the points a to d. The writing pressure correction value is anexample of a correction value of the present embodiment.

The calculation of the writing pressure correction value will bespecifically described with reference to FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 is a table illustrating an example of the writing pressurecorrection values 310 according to the present embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, the writing pressure correction values 310 are atable of writing pressure correction values set at the positions of thepoints a to d for respective user IDs.

For example, if the writing pressure of the user 1 is 100 gf at thepoint a, the line, width determined based on the standard settings is 1cm, as illustrated in FIG. 8. It is assumed here that the user 1 setsthe scale mark 502 a to the position corresponding to a line width of0.5 cm as the line width desired at the point a.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the line is displayed with the width of 0.5 cmwhen the writing pressure is 50 gf. Therefore, the difference betweenthe writing pressure of 100 gf actually applied by the user 1 and thewriting pressure 50 gf corresponding to the desired line width is −50gf. In this case, −50 is set as the writing pressure correction value atthe point a, as illustrated in the row of user ID “AA” in FIG. 9.

As for the line width at each of the positions of the other points b tod, the user 1 operates the corresponding one of the scale marks 502 b to502 d in a similar manner to adjust the line width. The firstcalibration, executing unit 241 calculates the writing pressurecorrection values for correcting the writing pressures of the user 1 atthe respective positions of the points a to d, and sets the calculatedwriting pressure correction values in the writing pressure correctionvalues 310.

That is, in accordance with the input from the user 1, the firstcalibration executing unit 241 sets the correction value for the linewidth at a predetermined position of the trajectory drawn by the user 1.The first calibration executing unit 241 calculates the writing pressurecorrection value at each of the positions of the points a to d based onthe difference between the line width determined based on the actualwriting pressure of the user 1 and the desired line width set by theuser 1. The first calibration executing unit 241 sets the calculatedwriting pressure correction value for the user 1, i.e., individuallysets the writing pressure correction value for each of the users.

The process of the first calibration is completed when the user 1presses a complete button with the electronic pen 100. After thecompletion of the process of the first calibration, the process ofsecond calibration starts. Alternatively, upon lapse of a predeterminedtime after the user 1 sets the line widths at the respective positionsof the points a to d on the setting screen for the first calibration,the process of the first calibration may be completed to proceed to theprocess of the second calibration.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the second calibration executing unit 242individually sets the minimum value and the maximum values of the linewidth for each of the users.

The process executed by the second calibration executing unit 242 willbe specifically described with reference to FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for thesecond calibration according to the present embodiment. A line widthsetting field 503 in FIG. 10 is a screen that receives an operation forsetting in the electronic information board 10 the minimum value and themaximum value of the line width for the user 1, i.e., for each of theusers. In FIG. 10, a scale mark 503 m indicates the minimum value of theline width, and a scale mark 503M indicates the maximum value of theline width.

The user 1 operates the scale marks 503 m and 503M with the electronicpen 100 to set each of the minimum value and the maximum value of theline width to a desired value. The second calibration executing unit 242acquires the minimum value and the maximum value of the line width setby the user 1 as the minimum value and the maximum value of the linewidth set for the user 1. That is, the second calibration executing unit242 sets the minimum value and the maximum value of the line width inaccordance with the input from the user 1.

In the electronic information board 10 according to the presentembodiment, the width of the line to be displayed changes in accordancewith the intensity of the writing pressure of the user 1, i.e., thewidth of the line to be displayed is reduced in accordance with thereduction in the writing pressure of the user 1. Further, the standardsettings are previously determined, as described above, so as not todisplay a line when the writing pressure of the user 1 is lower than thepredetermined threshold in consideration of the possibility ofunintentional contact on the touch panel 24 by the user 1.

In the electronic information board 10 according to the presentembodiment, the user 1 executes the second calibration to set theminimum value and the maximum value of the line width. With the minimumvalue of the line width set by the user 1, a line with the line widthset to the minimum value is displayed on the display screen 22irrespective of the writing pressure of the user 1, as long as thecontact of the electronic pen 100 is detected by the touch panel 24.Further, with the maximum value of the line width set by the user 1, aline with a line width exceeding the set maximum value will not bedisplayed on the display screen 22, even if the writing pressure of theuser 1 is increased.

The minimum value and the maximum value of the line width will bespecifically described with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is a tale illustrating an example of the minimum and maximumline width values 320 according to the present embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the minimum and maximum line width values 320are a table of minimum values and maximum values of the line width setfor the respective user IDs.

If the user 1 sets the scale mark 503 m for the minimum value of theline width to 0.5 cm on the setting screen for the second calibration inFIG. 10, the minimum value of the line width for the user 1 is set to0.5 cm, as illustrated in the row of user ID “AA” in FIG. 11. In thiscase, the display screen 22 displays the line with the line width of 0.5cm set as the minimum value, even if the writing pressure of the user 1falls below the predetermined threshold, as long as the contact of theelectronic pen 100 is detected by the touch panel 24.

Further, if the user 1 sets the scale mark 503M for the maximum value ofthe line width to 2 cm on the setting screen for the second calibrationin FIG. 10, the maximum value of the line width for the user 1 is set to2 cm, as illustrated in the row of user ID “AA” in FIG. 11. In thiscase, the display screen 22 displays the line with the line width of 2cm, even if the intensity of the writing pressure of the user 1 exceedsthe writing pressure corresponding to the line width of 2 cm. Forexample, in the settings of the line widths 300, a writing pressure of500 gf corresponds to a line width of 5 cm, as illustrated in FIG. 8.Even if the user 1 with user ID “AA” in FIG. 11 draws a line with thewriting pressure of 500 gf, however, the line is displayed with the linewidth of 2 cm, which is the maximum value.

As described above, the user 1 sets the minimum value and the maximumvalue of the line width in the second calibration. Thus, the width ofthe line varies within the range between the minimum value and themaximum value in accordance with the writing pressure.

In the second calibration, the minimum value and the maximum value ofthe width of the fine to be displayed are set. Therefore, the line widthdetermined in accordance with the writing pressure value corrected inthe first calibration is further limited by the second calibration.

For example, it is assumed here that the user 1 with user ID “AA” sets−50 gf as the writing pressure correction value at the point a in thefirst calibration, as illustrated in FIG. 9, and that the user 1 sets0.5 cm and 2 cm as the minimum value and the maximum value,respectively, of the line width in the second calibration, asillustrated in FIG. 11. In this case, if the writing pressure of theuser 1 is 75 gf at the point a corresponding to the beginning portion ofthe line, the corrected writing pressure is 25 gf. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the writing pressure of 25 gf corresponds to a line width of0.25 cm in the settings of the line widths 300. In this case, however,the minimum value of the line width is set to 0.5 cm by the user 1, andthus the line is displayed with the line width of 0.5 cm.

The process of the second calibration is completed when the user 1presses a complete button with the electronic pen 100. Alternatively,the second calibration may be completed upon lapse of a predeterminedtime after the displaying of the setting semen for the secondcalibration starts.

After the completion of the process of the second calibration, thesetting unit 240 stores the writing pressure correction values set inthe first calibration in the writing pressure correction values 310 inassociation with the corresponding user la The setting unit 240 furtherstores the minimum value and the maximum value of the line width set inthe second calibration in the minimum and maximum line width values 320in association with the corresponding user ID.

If the user 1 presses a reset button with the electronic pen 100, thesetting screen for the first calibration is displayed again. In thiscase, the user 1 again executes the first calibration and the secondcalibration to set the line width. This resetting method isillustrative, and thus the reset may be executed with a back button furreturning to the immediately preceding step, or only one of the firstcalibration and the second calibration may be executed again.

The settings stored in the writing pressure correction values 310 andthe minimum and maximum line width values 320 in association with thecorresponding user ID are read by the line width determining unit 233when the user 1 with the user ID logs in the electronic informationboard 10.

Referring back to FIG. 5, if the user 1 performs handwriting input onthe touch panel 24, the line width determining unit 233 determines theline width based on the actual writing pressure of the user 1 measuredby the pressure sensor 101.

The line width determining unit 233 basically increases the line widthin accordance with the increase in the writing pressure of the user 1measured by the pressure sensor 101 based on the definition set in theline widths 300. If the writing pressure correction value associatedwith the user 1 is set by the first calibration executing unit 241,however, the line width determining unit 233 corrects the actual writingpressure of the user 1 with the writing pressure correction value, anddetermines the line width based on the corrected writing pressure.Further, if the minimum value and the maximum value of the line widthassociated with the user 1 are set by the second calibration executingunit 242, the line width determining unit 233 determines the line widthto be within the range between the minimum value and the maximum valuethus set.

Specifically, if the user 1 draws a line on the touch panel 24, the linewidth determining unit 233 acquires, via the event signal determiningunit 231, the writing pressure of the user 1 measured by the pressuresensor 101 of the electronic pen 100. The line width determining unit233 further acquires the user ID from the user recognizing unit 232 asthe identification information of the user 1. The line width,determining unit 233 refers to the writing pressure correction values310, and acquires therefrom the writing pressure correction valueassociated with the acquired user ID. The line width determining unit233 comets the actual writing pressure of the user 1 with the writingpressure correction value. The line width determining unit 233 refers tothe line widths 300, and acquires therefrom the line width correspondingto the corrected writing pressure.

The line width determining unit 233 refers to the minimum and maximumline width values 320. Then, if the line width acquired from the linewidths 300 is included in the range between the minimum value and themaximum value associated with the user ID of the user 1, the line widthdetermining unit 233 determines to adopt the line width acquired fromthe line widths 300. If the line width acquired from the line widths 300is less than the minimum value associated with the user ID of the user1, the line width determining unit 233 determines to adopt, as the linewidth, the minimum value associated with the user ID of the user 1 setin the minimum and maximum line width values 320. If the line widthacquired from the line widths 300 exceeds the maximum value associatedwith the user ID of the user 1, the line width determining unit 233determines to adopt, as the line width, the maximum value associatedwith the user ID of the user 1 set in the minimum and maximum line widthvalues 320.

For example, if the actual writing pressure of the user 1 at theposition of the point a is 100 gf and the writing pressure correctionvalue corresponding to the user ID of the user 1 registered in thewriting pressure correction values 310 is −50 gf, the line widthdetermining unit 233 calculates 50 gf as the corrected writing pressure.The line width determining unit 233 then acquires from the line widths300 the line width of 0.5 cm corresponding to the corrected writingpressure of 50 gf. In the hue width of 0.5 cm is included in the rangebetween the minimum value and the maximum value associated with the userID of the user 1, the line width determining unit 233 determines 0.5 cmas the line width at the position of the point a. The line widthdetermining unit 233 further determines the line width at each of thepositions of the remaining points b to d by performing a process similarto the one described above.

Herein, the trajectory drawn on the touch panel 24 by the user 1 isassociated with the points a to d, which correspond to the predeterminedpositions set in the writing pressure correction values 310, in terms ofthe position in the trajectory. As described above, the position of thebeginning portion of the trajectory corresponds to the point a, and theposition corresponding to one-third of the trajectory from the beginningportion, of the trajectory corresponds to the point b. Further, theposition corresponding to two-thirds of the trajectory from thebeginning portion of the trajectory corresponds to the point c, and theposition of the end portion of the trajectory corresponds to the pointd.

For example, it is assumed here that a trajectory with a length of 6 cmis obtained through the movement of the electronic pen 100 made by theuser 1 from the touch of the electronic pen 100 on the touch panel 24 tothe release of the electronic pen 100 from the touch panel 24. In thiscase, the position of the beginning portion of the trajectorycorresponds to the point a, and the position 2 cm from the beginningportion of the trajectory corresponds to the point b. Further, theposition 4 cm from the beginning portion of the trajectory correspondsto the point c, and the position of the end portion of the trajectorycorresponds to the point d. The writing pressure at each of thepositions of the points a to d is corrected with the writing pressurecorrection value for the corresponding one of the points a to d set inthe writing pressure correction values 310.

The line width determining unit 233 thus determines the line widths atthe points a to d, and determines line widths between the points a to dbased on the line widths at the points a to d. For example, if the linewidth at the point a and the line width at the point b are 1 cm and 0.5cm, respectively, the line width of an intermediate portion connectingthe point a and the point b shifts from a width close to 1 cm to a widthclose to 0.5 cm toward the point b. The line width determining unit 233transmits the determined line widths to the screen rendering unit 234.

The screen rendering unit 234 generates a graphic of the linehandwritten by the user 1 based on the data of the position coordinatesof the contact point of the electronic pen 100 input from the touchpanel 24 via the event signal determining unit 231 and the line widthacquired from the line width determining unit 233. The screen renderingunit 234 displays the generated graphic on the display screen 22 of thedisplay 20. If an image is already displayed on the display screen 22,the screen rendering unit 234 displays the generated graphic assuperimposed on the displayed image.

The screen rendering unit 234 thus displays, on the display screen 22,the trajectory input to the touch panel 24 by handwriting by the user 1as the line having the line width determined by the line widthdetermining unit 233.

Further, in response to a control signal from the first calibrationexecuting unit 241, the screen rendering unit 234 displays a line in theline width display field 501 on the setting screen for the firstcalibration illustrated in FIG. 7 as the trajectory input by the user 1.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the screen display control unit 235 controlsthe image displayed on the display screen 22 of the display 20. If theuser 1 operates one of the screen operation units 26 on the touch panel24 with the electronic pen 100, the screen display control unit 235acquires an event signal via the main control unit 220 as theinformation input by the user 1 through the operation. The screendisplay control unit 235 changes the image to be displayed on thedisplay screen 22 in response to the operation performed by the user 1.

For example, if the user 1 presses the calibration button 26 a in FIG.6A (i.e., an example of one of the screen operation units 26) with theelectronic pen 100, the screen display control unit 235 acquires, viathe main control unit 220, a signal instructing to start thecalibration. The screen display control unit 235 then displays thesetting screen for the first calibration, as illustrated in FIG. 6B.

The screen display control unit 235 controls the image displayed on thedisplay screen 22 based not only on the screen operation performed bythe user 1 with the electronic pen 100 but also on a signal acquiredfrom the setting unit 240. For example, if the first calibrationexecuting unit 241 of the setting unit 240 determines, the line widthsto be displayed in the line width display field 501 on the settingscreen illustrated in FIG. 7, the screen display control unit 235displays the scale marks 502 a to 502 d at the respective positions inthe line width adjustment field 502 indicating the line widths. Thescreen display control unit 235 further controls other processes such asscreen transition following the completion of the first calibration andthe second calibration.

The calibration process according to the thus-configured presentembodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of aline width calibration process according to the present embodiment. Theprocessing of the flowchart starts after the power-on of the electronicinformation board 10 and the start-up of the display and the controller60, for example.

The user 1 of the electronic information board 10 holds the IC card 400above the IC card reading device 25 to log in the electronic informationboard 10 (step S1). The IC card reading device 25 reads the user ID,i.e., the identification information, of the user 1 from the IC card400, and transmits the identification information of the user 1 to theIC card I/F 250. The IC card I/F 250 transmits the acquiredidentification information of the user 1 to the main control unit 220.The user recognizing unit 232 acquires the identification information ofthe user 1 from the main control unit 220 via the event signaldetermining unit 231.

After the log-in process, the initial screen is displayed on the displayscreen 22, as illustrated in FIG. 6A if the touch panel 24 detects thatthe calibration button 26 a displayed in the display screen 22 has beenpressed by the user 1 with the electronic pen 100 (YES at step S2), thefirst calibration executing unit 241 starts the process of the firstcalibration (step S3). If the touch panel 24 does not detect thepressing of the calibration button 26 a (NO at step S2), the firstcalibration executing unit 241 does not start the process of the firstcalibration, and the touch panel 24 stands by for an operation by theuser 1.

Details of the process of the first calibration will be described withreference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of theprocess of the first calibration according to the present embodiment.The first calibration executing unit 241 of the setting unit 240acquires the user ID, i.e., the identification information, of the user1 from the user recognizing unit 232 (step S31).

The screen display control unit 235 displays the setting screen for thefirst calibration on the display screen 22, as illustrated in FIG. 68(step S32).

With the electronic, pen 100, the user 1 inputs a trajectory byhandwriting in the input area of the line width display field 501 on thedisplayed setting screen for the first calibration. The firstcalibration executing unit 241 acquires the position coordinates of thecontact point of the electronic pen 100 detected by the touch panel 24from the hardwiring input performed by the user 1 and the writingpressure of the user 1 measured by the pressure sensor 101 of theelectronic pen 100 (step S33).

The first calibration executing unit 241 controls the screen renderingunit 234 to display, in the line width display field 501, a line havingthe width based on the actual writing pressure of the user 1, asillustrated in FIG. 7 (step S34).

The first calibration executing unit controls the screen display controlunit display, in the line width adjustment field 502, the scale marks502 a to 502 d corresponding to the respective fine widths at thepositions of the points a to d in the line width display field 501. Theuser 1 adjusts the scale marks 502 a to 502 d with the electronic pen100 to set the line width at each of the positions of the points a to d.The first calibration executing unit 241 acquires the line widths at therespective positions of the points a to d adjusted on the setting screenby the user 1 (step S35).

Based on the difference between the line width at each of the positionsof the points a to d before being adjusted on the setting screen by theuser 1 and the line width at the position after being adjusted on thesetting screen by the user 1, the first calibration executing unit 241calculates the writing pressure correction value at the position for theuser 1 (step S36). Thereby, the process of the first calibration in FIG.13 is completed, and the procedure returns, to the processing of theflowchart in FIG. 12.

The second calibration executing unit 242 then starts the process of thesecond calibration (step S4).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of theprocess of the second calibration according to the present embodiment.The second calibration executing unit 242 of the setting unit 240acquires the user ID, i.e., the identification information, of the user1 from the user recognizing unit 232 (step S41).

The screen display control unit 235 displays the setting screen for thesecond calibration on the display screen 22, as illustrated in FIG. 10(step S42).

The user 1 operates the scale marks 503 m and 503M in the line widthsetting field 503 with the electronic pen 100 to set the minimum valueand the maximum value of the line width. The second calibrationexecuting unit 242 acquires the minimum value and the maximum value ofthe line width set by the User 1 (step S43). Thereby, the process of thesecond calibration in FIG. 14 is completed, and the procedure returns tothe processing of the flowchart in FIG. 12.

If the user 1 presses a complete button with the electronic pen 100, thesetting unit 240 stores in the writing pressure correction values 310the writing pressure correction values set in the first calibration, andstores in the minimum and maximum line width values 320 the minimumvalue and the maximum value of the line width set in the secondcalibration. Thereby, the settings of the line width for the user 1 arestored. If it is determined that the settings of the line width for theuser 1 are stored (YES at step S5), the processing of the flowchart inFIG. 12 is completed.

If the user 1 presses a reset button with the electronic pen 100 andthus the settings of the line width for the user 1 are not stored (NO atstep S5), the processes of the first calibration and the secondcalibration start again and continue to be repeated until the user 1stores the settings of the line width (steps S3 and S4).

As described above, the electronic information board 10 according to thepresent embodiment includes the touch panel 24, the pressure sensor 101,the line width determining unit 233, the display screen 22, and thesetting unit 240. The touch panel 24 receives handwriting inputperformed by the user 1. The pressure Sensor 101 measures the writingpressure of the user 1 when the user 1 performs the handwriting input onthe touch panel 24. The line width determining unit 233 determines theline width based on the writing pressure of the user 1 measured by thepressure sensor 101. The display screen 22 displays a line with the linewidth determined by the line width determining unit 233 as thetrajectory of the handwriting input performed on the touch panel 24 bythe user 1. In accordance with input from the user 1, the setting unit240 sets the correction value for the line width at each of thepredetermined positions in the trajectory of the handwriting inputperformed by the user 1. The line width determining unit 233 correctsthe line width based on the correction value set by the setting unit240.

According to the electronic information hoard 10 of the presentembodiment, therefore, the trajectory input by the user 1 is displayedon the display screen 22 as corrected with the correction value presetby the user 1. That is, according to the electronic information board 10of the present embodiment, the line is displayed with the desired widthwith no need for the user 1 to perform the operation of correcting theline width every time the user 1 performs handwriting input on theelectronic information board 10. According to the electronic informationboard 10 of the present embodiment, therefore, the line intended by theuser 1 is displayed on the display screen 22 of the display 20 withoutcompromising user convenience.

When a user writes a character, for example, on a touch panel of adisplay, the writing pressure of the user generally tends to beincreased at the beginning and the end of a line, and to be reduced inan intermediate portion of the line, particularly in cursive writing,for example. A typical image display apparatus that changes the width ofthe line to be displayed in accordance with the writing pressure of theuser may fail to display the line intended by the user, displaying aline with a width not intended by the user or displaying a line as cutsegments, for example.

The electronic information board 10 of the present embodiment, on theother hand, sets the correction value for the line width at each of thepredetermined positions of the trajectory drawn by the user 1, whichinclude the positions of at least the beginning portion, theintermediate portion, and the end portion of the trajectory. Therefore,the line is displayed with a set width, even if the writing pressure ofthe user 1 is unintentionally changed by the user 1. The electronicinformation board 10 of the present embodiment therefore preventsphenomena such as an excessive increase in the line width at thebeginning portion and the end portion of the trajectory and an excessivereduction in the line width at the intermediate portion of thetrajectory, which may lead to the disconnection of the line.

Further, in the electronic information board 10 of the presentembodiment, the line width determining unit 233 increases the line widthin accordance with the increase in the writing pressure of the user 1measured by the pressure sensor 101. According to the electronicinformation board 10 of the present embodiment, therefore, the width ofthe line to be displayed is not previously fixed to a certain value, butis adjustable in accordance with the writing pressure applied during thedrawing of the trajectory by the user 1.

Further, in the electronic information hoard 10 of the presentembodiment, the setting unit 240 sets the writing pressure correctionvalue for correcting the writing pressure of the user 1 measured by thepressure sensor 101, and the line width determining unit 233 determinesthe line width based on the value of the writing pressure of the user 1measured by the pressure sensor 101 and corrected with the writingpressure correction value. That is, according to the electronicinformation board 10 of the present embodiment, the difference betweenthe writing pressure necessary fat the user 1 to draw a desired line andthe writing pressure actually applied during the drawing of thetrajectory by the user 1 is compensated by the writing pressurecorrection value. Consequently, the line is drawn with the desired widthwith no need for the user 1 to correct his or her handwriting orapplication of the writing pressure. Further, the electronic informationhoard 10 of the present embodiment does not set the width of the line tobe displayed per se. Accordingly, the electronic information board 10 ofthe present embodiment attains both the correction of the line width bythe line width determining unit 233 and the adjustment by the user 1 ofthe width of the line drawn by the user 1 through the adjustment of thewriting pressure applied during the handwriting input by the user 1.

Further, according to the electronic information board 10 of the presentembodiment, the setting unit 240 individually sets the correction valueof the line width for each user, and thus sets the correction value inaccordance with the writing pressure of the individual user or the linewidth desired by the individual user. The electronic information board10 of the present embodiment therefore prevents the display screen 22from displaying a line with a line width unintended by the user 1.

The setting unit 240 of the electronic information board 10 of thepresent embodiment further sets the minimum value and the maximum valueof the line width in accordance with the input from the user 1 and theline width determining unit 233 determines the line width within therange between the minimum value and the maximum value set by the settingunit 240. Even if the writing pressure of the user 1 is substantiallyreduced, therefore, the line is displayed with the width set to theminimum value, thereby preventing the discontinuation of the line. Ifthe writing pressure of the user 1 is substantially increased, on theother hand, the line is displayed with the width set to the maximumvalue, thereby preventing the line from being displayed with a widthgreater than the width intended by the user 1.

Further, the setting unit 240 of the electronic information board 10 ofthe present embodiment individually sets the minimum value and themaximum value of the line width for each user, to thereby set the rangeof variation of the line width in accordance with the writing pressureof each user, if the writing pressure of the user 1 variessubstantially, therefore, the range between the minimum value and themaximum value may be set to a narrow range to prevent a sharp change inthe line width within a trajectory.

As described above, according to the electronic information board 10 ofthe present embodiment, the user 1 executes the first calibration andthe second calibration as initial settings before using the electronicinformation board 10. This configuration allows the user 1 to draw aline with the width intended by the user 1 when using the electronicinformation board 10.

A program fur executing the line width calibration process in theelectronic information hoard 10 (i.e., the image display apparatus)according to the present embodiment is provided as preinstalled in aROM, for example, or may be provided as recorded in a computer-readablerecording medium, such as a compact disc-ROM (CD-ROM), a flexible disk(FD), a CD-recordable (CD-R), or a digital versatile disk (DVD), in aninstallable format file or in an executable format file.

Further, the above-described program may be stored in a computerconnected to a network, such as the Internet, and may be provided asdownloaded via the network. Further, the above-described program may beprovided or distributed via a network, such as the Internet.

Further, the above-described program is divided into modules includingthe above-described functional units, which include the main controlunit 220 and the application unit 230 including the event signaldetermining unit 231, the user recognizing unit 232, the line widthdetermining unit 233, the screen rendering unit 234, the screen displaycontrol unit 235, and the setting unit 240 (i.e., the first calibrationexecuting unit 241 and the second calibration executing unit 242). Inactual hardware, a CPU (i.e., a processor) reads the program forexecuting line width calibration process from the ROM and executes theprogram, to thereby load and generate the respective units (i.e., themain control unit 220 and the application unit 230 including the eventsignal determining unit 231, the user recognizing unit 232, the linewidth determining unit 233, the screen rendering unit 234, the screendisplay control unit 235, and the setting unit 240 including the firstcalibration executing unit 241 and the second calibration executing unit242) in a main storage device of the electronic information board 10.

Modified examples of the present embodiment will be described.

In the foregoing embodiment, the writing pressure and the line width areassociated with each other as the standard settings of the electronicinformation hoard 10 based on the values registered in the table of theline widths 300, as described above. The configuration, however, is notlimited thereto. For example, a function defining the relationshipbetween the writing pressure and the line width may be provided tocalculate the line width from the writing pressure based on thefunction.

In the foregoing embodiment, the electronic information board 10 setsthe writing pressure correction value for each user (i.e., the user 1),corrects the actual writing pressure of the user 1 with the writingpressure correction value, and displays the line with the width based onthe corrected writing pressure, to thereby display the line with thewidth intended by the user 1. The configuration, however, is not limitedthereto. For example, instead of correcting the writing pressure, theelectronic information board 10 may be configured to set a line widthcorrection value for correcting the line width for each user, andcorrect the line width corresponding to the actual writing pressure ofthe user 1 based on the line width correction value, to thereby displaythe line with the corrected line width. The thus-configured electronicinformation board 10 is also capable of displaying the line with thewidth intended by the user 1.

In the foregoing embodiment, the electronic information board 10 hasbeen described as an example of the image display apparatus. Thetechnique of the foregoing embodiment, however, is not limited thereto,and is also applicable to a device including the touch panel 24 thatreceives handwriting input, such as a tablet information terminal, forexample.

In the foregoing embodiment, the electronic pen 100 equipped with thepressure sensor 101 measures the writing pressure of the user 1.Alternatively, a pressure-sensitive touch panel may be employed as thetouch panel 24 of the electronic information board 10. In this case, theelectronic information board 10 measures the writing pressure with thetouch panel 24, and thus is capable of measuring the writing pressureeven lithe user 1 draws a line with a stylus pen other than theelectronic pen 100 or with a finger of the user 1, for example. Withthis configuration, therefore, the electronic information board 10 iscapable of displaying the line on the display screen 22 with the linewidth intended by the user 1 even if the line is drawn by the user 1without the dedicated electronic pen 100.

In the foregoing embodiment, the calibration button 26 a is a digitalbutton displayed on the display 20 by software. The calibration button26 a, however, is not limited thereto, and may be configured as aphysical button provided to the electronic information board 10.

In the foregoing embodiment, the settings of the first calibration andthe settings of the second calibration are stored after the firstcalibration and the second calibration are both completed.Alternatively, the settings of the first calibration and the settings ofthe second calibration may be separately stored to store the settings ofthe first calibration after the completion of the first calibration andstore the settings of the second calibration after the completion of thesecond calibration.

In the foregoing embodiment, the line widths 300, the writing pressurecorrection values 310, and the minimum and maximum line width values 320are stored in the HDD 64 of the electronic information board 10.Alternatively, the line widths 300, the writing, pressure correctionvalues 310, and the minimum and maximum line width values 320 may bestored in an external storage device connected to the electronicinformation board 10 by the network 204, or may be stored in adata-writable, non-volatile storage device other than the HDD 64, suchas a flash memory, for example. The line widths 300 may be stored not inthe HDD 64 but in the ROM 62.

In the foregoing embodiment, the first calibration and the secondcalibration are both performed. Alternatively, only one of the firstcalibration and the second calibration may be performed.

In the foregoing embodiment, the user 1 executes the first calibrationand the second calibration as the initial settings before using theelectronic information board 10. Alternatively, the electronicinformation board 10 may be configured to allow the user 1 to executethe first calibration and the second calibration after the start of theuse of due electronic information board 10 to change the settings again,for example.

The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit thepresent invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example,elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may becombined with each other and/or substituted for each other within thescope of the present invention. Further, the above-described steps arenot limited to the order disclosed herein.

Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented byone or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitryincludes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. Aprocessing circuit also includes devices such as an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), and conventional circuit componentsarranged to perform the recited functions.

1. An image display apparatus comprising: a sensor to measure a writingpressure of a user in response to handwriting input performed on aninput device by the user; circuitry to determine a width of a line basedon the measured writing pressure of the user, and a display to displaythe line with the determined width as a trajectory of the handwritinginput performed on the input device by the user, the circuitry setting acorrection value for the width of the line at each of a plurality ofpredetermined positions of the trajectory of the handwriting input bythe user in response to input from the user, and correcting the width ofthe line based on the set correction value.
 2. The image displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of predetermined positionsinclude respective positions of at least a beginning portion, anintermediate portion, and an end portion of the trajectory of thehandwriting input by the user.
 3. The image display apparatus of claim1, wherein the circuitry increases the width of the line in accordancewith an increase in the measured writing pressure of the user.
 4. Theimage display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the correction value is awriting pressure correction value for correcting the measured writingpressure of the user, and wherein the circuitry determines the width ofthe line based on the measured writing pressure of the user correctedwith the writing pressure correction value.
 5. The image displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry individually sets accorrection value for the user.
 6. The image display apparatus of claim1, wherein the circuitry sets a minimum value and a maximum value of thewidth of the line in response to input from the user, and determines thewidth of the line within a range between the set minimum value and theset maximum value.
 7. The image display apparatus of claim 6, whereinthe circuitry individually sets the minimum value and the maximum valueof the width of the line for the user.
 8. An image display apparatuscontrolling method comprising: measuring a writing pressure of a user inresponse to handwriting input performed by the user; acquiring a widthof a line set by the user; calculating a writing pressure correctionvalue for the user based on a difference between the acquired width ofthe line and a width of the line bused on the measured writing pressure;acquiring a minimum value and a maximum value of the width of the lineinput by the user; and storing the calculated writing pressurecorrection value for the user and the minimum value and the maximumvalue of the width of the line for the user.
 9. A non-transitoryrecording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute animage display apparatus controlling method comprising: measuring awriting pressure of a user in response to handwriting input performed bythe user; acquiring a width of a line set by the user; calculating awriting pressure correction value for the user based on a differencebetween the acquired width of the line and a width of the line based onthe measured writing pressure; acquiring a minimum value and a maximumvalue of the width of the line input by the user; and storing thecalculated writing pressure correction value for the user and theminimum value and the maximum value of the width of the line for theuser.